WWE diva visits Yokota, By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes - 7th September 2008

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — World Wrestling Entertainment diva Victoria visited airmen and families here Friday evening, and it was a homecoming — of sorts.

Her father, Angel E. Sole, a Vietnam veteran, was stationed at Yokota in the late 1960s. He met her mother in Japan and ultimately spent 20 years in the Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant.

Two of Victoria’s older brothers were born on Yokota, she said.

"With my dad being in the Air Force, I feel a connection," she told a large crowd at the Yokota Enlisted Club. "Every time I’m on an Air Force base, I feel at home."

Victoria is in Tokyo to attend a "SummerSlam" viewing party on Sunday with another diva, Maria, who also had been scheduled to visit Yokota but couldn’t make it due to a late arrival in Japan.

At the Enlisted Club, Victoria signed autographs and posed for photos with fans who lined up to meet the 37-year-old star. Earlier, the two-time WWE Women’s Champion made an appearance at the Samurai Cafe dining facility to hang out with airmen.

She even showed off a couple of wrestling moves.

"I love WWE," said Airman 1st Class Mike Cottingham, 23, of the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "I watch ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown.’ I love it here ’cause you get it all for free, even the pay-per-views.

"This is amazing. I like Victoria. I like all the divas. Whenever I get an opportunity, I’ve got to come meet them."

Victor Madaris, 13, an eighth-grader at Yokota Middle School, wore his WrestleMania XXIV T-shirt to meet Victoria. He said he wanted to meet her "because she’s famous."

"It was cool," he said afterward. "I like seeing all the people wrestle in WWE. I’ve been a big fan."

While storylines are fictitious, the bumps and bruises wrestlers endure are real. Over a nine-year career, Victoria said, she’s broken her nose twice, had a few teeth knocked out and suffered a torn ACL — one of four major ligaments in the knee.

"You feel every move in the ring," she told the audience.

Since 2003, WWE has entertained U.S. servicemembers in either Iraq or Afghanistan during the holidays with its "Tribute to the Troops" shows.

"We have a big fan base in the military," Victoria said. "We try to show our appreciation for their hard work. Our military is the real superheroes, not us.

"We love you, we appreciate you. We just want you to be home and safe someday."

(Credit: Stars and Stripes)

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

"Killer" Kowalski Dies at Age 81 - Press Release

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug 30, 2008
World Wrestling Entertainment

WWE is saddened by the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Walter "Killer" Kowalski.

Kowalski, who was an in-demand performer in the 1950's and '60's, was a former WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) Tag Team Champion in the late-1970's.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1996. He was instrumental in the training of many WWE Superstars, including current WWE Champion Triple H. WWE extends its condolences to the Kowalski family.

SOURCE: World Wrestling Entertainment

Media Man Australia Profile

Walter "Killer" Kowalski

Website

WWE official website - Hall Of Fame

King Of The Ring, by Brian Mciver - Daily Record - 16th August 2008

WWE Superstar Shows Our Man Brian Some Of The Moves That Made Him A Wrestling Legend He's A 6ft 5in Former Us Marine Who Is Built Like A Tank And Throws Grown Men Around Like They Are Rag Dolls - That's Why They Call Randy Orton ..

FACING off against a man called Randy who wears spandex trunks for his daily work sounds frightening enough.

But when the self same giant stares you down with the meanest, darkest eyes this side of Jaws, it's either time to call an insurance firm or an underwear shop.

I had just made the mistake of challenging WWE wrestling superstar Randy Orton to show me his scariest moves, and he immediately showed just why he has been voted one of the best bad guys on television.

The Tennessee-born one time US Marine is a former champion of the American ring phenomenon and one of the best known villains of this theatrical sport.

He makes a living combining his huge frame with a steely stare and lots of general bad boy behaviour.

Randy took time off from his training programme to give the Daily Record an insight into his baddie persona, when he visited the UK to promote this weekend's TV SummerSlam wrestling event, as well as their European tour which comes to Scotland this autumn.

Randy, 28, is one of the best loved (and hated) stars of the sport, and has thousands of adoring fans all over the world.

He has been out of wrestling action for the last two months following a broken collarbone, the result of a bout with rival Triple H.

But the wrestler revealed that the physical side of the sport is only half the battle, with showmanship and image just as important as the combat.

That is where the 6ft 5in giant shows the skills that have made him rich and famous.

When you speak to him out of character, Orton, who was born into wrestling royalty as the son of Cowboy Bob Orton, and with both a grandfather and uncle in the sport, is well spoken and friendly.

But as soon as he gets near a ring or training he becomes the guy who is currently up against Simon Cowell for best baddie in the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

HE said he would show me the secret to his showmanship style. I thought that would be pulling faces or an affected stare but he gets very scary, very fast.

"It's all about being intimidating when you're in the ring, and you can trash talk their appearance, their record or whatever, and stare them out or go right up to them," he said.

"It wasn't my decision at first to be a heel, because at first when the guys got to knowme, I had kind of an arrogant, narcissistic attitude, and I don't deal with authority figures too well, and that translated into ring, so I became a heel.

"I can get 10,000 people to boo me if I drop a guy with a clothes line and drop my knee on the back of his head with a smirk and then it's like, 'aww, boo' and you get with it.

"My goal is to get the best, or worst, reaction from them as I can."

Randy decided to get a reaction from me by challenging me to a test of strength. The test lasted all of five seconds as he was virtually juggling huge weights while I was requiring physiotherapy after trying to lift some tiny barbells and keep up.

We then gathered ourselves for a ring-style face off, and any doubts I may have had about just how intimidating he could be were excreted away, as he eye balled me with a serial killer stare.

I tried to bravado him back, but even though I wasn't about to take him on in a ring bout and I knew for certain there was no violence on the cards whatsoever, but his constant growl made me flinch at first, before I was virtually leaning back at a right angle to get away from him.

Randy got his big break into wrestling after his military career ended badly.

He was dishonourably discharged from the Marines after disobeying orders and started making inroads into the world of wrestling in 1999 courtesy of his dad.

He quickly found a niche at the home of WWE, and after making his name as a baddie, he used his family background (his childhood home was a wrestlers' hang out, with legends like Andre the Giant and wannabe Scot Rowdy Roddy Piper there all the time) and skills to carve out a successful career.

Since hitting the WWE big time in 2002, he has won four major titles and earned a huge fan base.

"I didn't know what I was gonna do with my life, at first I tried the military, that didn't go too well, so I asked my dad if he could call Vince McMahon and get me a job.

"It was really just out of desperation but it turned out I loved it and I was a natural at it, I got on TV a year and a half after I started training, took off from there.

"At first I felt the pressure (of the family name) but very quickly it dissipated because I did well and the stats show I surpassed my father in terms of ring stats and titles, so I was never really in the shadow of it.

"I pretty much learned things on-the-job and through practice and training, I was under the wing of people like Ric Flair and Triple H.

I learned a lot, and moulded my character into what it is now, figuring out what works, what doesn't, and I got a handle on how to make the crowd despise me." WORKING the crowds is one of Randy's favourite parts of the job, and he said he can't wait for the WWE UK tour in November, when he and his fellow grapplers will bring their pizzazz to Glasgow and Aberdeen.

"Whenever we go overseas, there's a lot more excitement, and the crowds aren't used to seeing us live, so they go crazy, which makes it all more exciting. The adrenaline gets pumping because of that energy.

"It's nice to visit all parts of the world and witness different cultures, we've been all over, and being recognised is pretty cool.

"But I would say travelling and being away from loved ones is the hardest part of the job.

"I've got a newborn at home, it's the first time I've been away from her and I miss her, but it's what I do for living."

After his injury, Randy is missing out on wrestling in tomorrow night's payper-view SummerSlam event, although he will be there to cause some trouble, so he is now really looking forward to the UK tour, and coming back to Scotland.

"I've been to Aberdeen and Glasgow before and it was great, I cant wait to come back.

"I don't know about wearing a kilt. I don't need to, I don't necessarily want the fans to like me.

"If anything, I might call it a skirt, and say 'do men wear dresses here' and p*** them off a bit.

"I'll do what I can to be hated."

The WWE Raw events take place in Glasgow on November 14, and Aberdeen on November 15, while SummerSlam is on Sunday, August 17 at 1am, live and exclusive on Sky Box Office.

'Randy makes a living from combining his huge frame with a steely stare and lots of general bad boy behaviour'

'I've got a newborn at home. It's the first time I've been away from her and I miss her badly, but it's what I do for a living'

(Credit: Daily Record)

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

Wrestlers 'still shocked' over Benoit murders, by Sean Cusick, ninemsn - 15th August 2008

The world of professional wrestling is "still in shock" over the Chris Benoit murders, according to one of the sport's biggest names.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Dave "The Animal" Batista says the wrestling industry is still traumatised by Benoit's double-murder suicide almost 14 months ago.

"Still to this day, I think people are in shock over it and a lot of people are still in denial," the US-based Batista told ninemsn.

"It's just the hardest thing we've ever done … a nightmare come to life."

Batista, 39, spent over five years wrestling with Benoit as two of the WWE's most popular entertainers.

He says the pair were close friends and "had a deep personal trust for each other and … talked about personal issues".

Benoit shocked the world last June when he murdered his wife Nancy and seven-year-old son Daniel in his Georgia home.

The 40-year-old Canadian is believed to have strangled his wife with a cord and used a choke hold to strangle his son before placing Bibles next to their bodies.

He then hanged himself with a weights machine in his basement.

"It's just hard to think of Chris Benoit in that way," Batista said.

"We all loved him so much, and we all respected him so much.

"A lot of us are kind of in denial because we don’t associate the Chris Benoit we knew and loved with the Chris Benoit who did that horrible thing."

Batista was speaking ahead of the WWE SummerSlam event, which is airs on Foxtel on Monday.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Dave "The Animal" Batista

Foxtel

WWE

Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant sowed the seeds of a slam at Shea Stadium, by Elliot Olshansky - New York Daily News - 9th September 2008

Before Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant headlined wrestling's biggest shows of the 80s, they laid the foundation for their most famous moment at Shea Stadium.

The defining moment of the 1980s pro wrestling boom took place outside Detroit, but the seeds were sown at Shea Stadium.

The image is iconic, even among non-fans: Hulk Hogan, at the peak of his popularity - at least until "Hogan Knows Best" hit VH1 - lifts and bodyslams Andre the Giant, thrilling the reported 93,173 fans who filled the Pontiac Silverdome for Wrestlemania III. A short three-count later, the match ends, and Hulk is still the champion of the promotion then known as the World Wrestling Federation.

As Hogan celebrated his win over the mammoth Frenchman, commentators Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura remarked that it was Andre's first loss in 15 years, and the first time he'd ever been slammed. It was a great story, a fitting climax for the largest show in the history of the business. Of course, given the nature of the wrestling business - or, as it's called these days, "sports entertainment" - it's only fitting that the story was a fabrication.

Of course, all discussion of wins and losses in professional wrestling is pointless to begin with, for obvious reasons. However, when it comes to the celebrated bodyslam, before it became "The Bodyslam Heard 'Round the World" in front of 93,000 fans, it was heard - and seen - by some 36,000 at Shea Stadium, 28 years ago on Saturday.

On August 9, 1980, the then-WWF presented its third "Showdown at Shea" event. While World Wrestling Entertainment has routinely drawn more than 50,000 fans for the seven pay-per-view events held at outdoor stadiums, the shows at Shea, like the WWF at the time, operated on a different scale, and being able to attract that many fans to Shea was a major step for the promotion.

"Back then, they didn't have the penetration from TV that they have now," said longtime wrestling writer Bill Apter of 1wrestling.com. "The TV universe was much smaller, so that was equal to a gigantic gate today."

To Keith Elliot Greenberg, a longtime writer for WWE's magazines and a collaborator on the autobiographies of wrestling legends "Classy" Freddie Blassie, Ric Flair, and "Superstar" Billy Graham, that gigantic gate was a major statement for the promotion, and for wrestling as a whole.

"It symbolized that despite the complete exclusion of the mainstream media, professional wrestling could stir hearts of the masses and fill a venue at Shea Stadium," Greenberg said.

After 22,508 showed up in Flushing for the first Showdown at Shea in 1972, and some 32,000 turned out for the second incarnation in 1976, the third Showdown was the biggest yet. A reported 36,295 came out to see Bruno Sammartino battle protégé-turned-rival Larry Zbysko inside a steel cage. Earlier in the evening, however, a young, up-and-coming Hulk Hogan stepped into the ring to face the beloved Andre the Giant.

"At that time, Hulk Hogan was brand new," Greenberg said. "He was young, he was massive, he was golden in color, and he was the future of the industry in more ways than fans realized."

The fans at Shea that night wanted to see the brash newcomer put in his place by the beloved Giant, and they got their wish. Andre pinned Hogan after 7:48 of action, but not before Hogan lifted and slammed his rival.

Shortly after the match, Hogan left the WWF, and when he returned - after a scene in Rocky III and three years in the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association - he began the run that made him a household name, helping to take the WWF from a regional promotion based in the Northeast to a national powerhouse. That run reached its peak in 1987, when he again locked up with Andre.

By this point, Hogan had become the virtuous hero who espoused training, prayer and vitamins, and it hardly made sense to acknowledge his past as a cocky rulebreaker. Besides, the WWF's audience had grown by leaps and bounds in the seven years since Hogan and Andre met in Flushing, and there was no reason for the vast majority of fans to know that the match had ever taken place, or that Hogan had already lifted and slammed the supposedly impossible-to-lift Frenchman.

"There was no reason at that point," Apter said, "because they were recreating their history."

Of course, in the age before YouTube, Wikipedia, and internet message boards, there was really no good way to find out.

"While the Shea Stadium show was a big deal in the New York area, it was little more than a curiosity elsewhere in the country, unless you were a reader of magazines like Pro Wrestling Illustrated," said Scott Keith, author of four books on pro wrestling, including the forthcoming "Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse." "Fans were basically at the mercy of the WWF as far as things like match results and history went. So while they may have mentioned in passing that Hulk lost that match, in the bigger picture they could simply pretend like it didn't happen when it suited their needs to do so later on."

As Hulk and Andre became the focal points of a storyline that would last nearly two years and help launch two new annual pay-per-view events (Survivor Series in 1987 and Summerslam in 1988), their earlier history was swept under the rug, never spoken about on WWF programming.

It wasn't until 2002, when Hogan returned to WWE after an eight-year stint with the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling promotion, that the match resurfaced as an official part of the promotion's history. In the summer of 2002, the promotion released a two-DVD set, Hulk Still Rules, documenting the wrestling icon's career, and among the matches included to accompany the main feature was the "lost" match at Shea Stadium.

Today, of course, WWE is much more open about the nature of the business. Fans are as unlikely to believe in a 15-year unbeaten streak as they are to care, and it's commonly accepted and acknowledged that anyone who is lifted and slammed in the ring is a willing participant in the activity. Meanwhile, Hogan is a reality TV star, Andre Roussimoff has been dead for 15 years, and the stadium where the two of them laid the foundation for a defining moment in their profession is set to be dismantled. However, 28 years after the fact, as New Yorkers recall the historic moments that took place at Shea Stadium, one of those events, often forgotten, was a key moment in the career of a wrestling icon.

As Greenberg said of Hogan, "His slamming of Andre the Giant symbolized the fact that Hulk Hogan could go where others could not."

(Credit: New York Daily News)

Media Man Australia Profiles

New York

Hulk Hogan

Andre the Giant

WWE

WWE Ratings News on Free to Air and Pay TV

WWE Afterburn airing Sunday Afternoon's on Channel 9 was watched by over 214,000 people last week coming in at No.48 of the Top 50 programs. SmackDown & RAW continue to make the Top 50 on Pay TV.

SmackDown averaged 97,000 viewers on Friday August 1st at 3:30pm FOX8, making it the 25th most viewed show during a single screening last week on Pay TV for the second week running.

RAW had an average of 72,000 people tuning in at 3:30 pm on July 30th, making it the 45th most watched show during a single viewing last week.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE Afterburn

Network Nine Australia

WWE

WWE Expands Board - 7th August 2008

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug 07, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

WWE today announced it has expanded its Board of Directors to 10 members with the addition of Kevin Dunn, Frank A. Riddick, III and Jeffrey R. Speed. In accordance with his previously announced plans, Robert Bowman has resigned from the Board.

Riddick will now chair the Company's Audit Committee. Other members of the committee will be Speed and current Board members David Kenin and Michael Solomon.
"These three outstanding executives bring extensive operating experience and financial acumen to our expanded Board of Directors," said WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. "With their addition, we enhance our ability to meet the challenges of continued global expansion and to capitalize on the future opportunities for our company and brand."

Dunn has served as WWE's Executive Vice President, Television Production, since July 2003. In his current position running WWE's pivotal television business, he manages WWE's television and production facilities, including a team of approximately 165 people that produce five hours of fresh, prime time television programming each week for U.S. networks and nine hours of original programming for markets in 130 countries, as well as content for DVDs, pay-per-views, and video on demand.

Riddick is a consultant to TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. ("TowerBrook"), a New York and London - based private equity firm. Riddick is a director of GrafTech International Ltd. Prior to joining TowerBrook, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Formica Corporation, a manufacturer of surfacing materials used in countertops, cabinets, and flooring from January 2002 to April 2008. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Armstrong Holdings, Inc. from 2000 to 2001 and as Chief Financial Officer at Armstrong and its subsidiaries from 1995 to 2000.

Speed has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Six Flags, Inc., the world's largest regional theme park operator, since April 2006. Prior to joining Six Flags, Mr. Speed spent approximately 13 years with The Walt Disney Company, most recently serving from 2003 until 2006 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Euro Disney SAS, the publicly-traded operator of the Disneyland Resort Paris, which is the number one tourist destination in Europe.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide.

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated.

SOURCE: World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
Media:
Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
or
Investors:
Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WWE Creative Team Taps Prinze, Jr., by Mansha Daswani World Screen - 30th July 2008

STAMFORD, July 30: The actor Freddie Prinze, Jr. is set to take a behind-the-scenes role contributing to World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) weekly TV and pay-per-view offerings.

“Freddie Prinze, Jr.’s passion, energy and creativity make him an excellent fit for WWE,” said the company’s chairman, Vince McMahon.

"Bringing on board an experienced Hollywood writer, actor and producer like Freddie Prinze, Jr. will only increase the level of entertainment to millions of viewers and passionate WWE fans every Monday on USA," added Chris McCumber, the executive VP of marketing digital and brand strategy at USA Network, WWE’s U.S. broadcast partner.

Prinze, Jr.’s film credits include Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also been featured in guest spots on a host of TV series, and was the star of the short-lived ABC sitcom Freddie.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WWE® Rated PG July 28, 2008 - Press Release

STAMFORD, Conn., July 28, 2008 - In recognition of WWE’s family friendly programming, all of its network distributors (NBC, USA Network, SCI FI Channel, CW) now rate WWE’s weekly individual programs as PG.

WWE–produced television has long been thought of as family programming. It’s not uncommon for multiple family members across generations to enjoy the fun-filled excitement of World Wrestling Entertainment®.

WWE RAW® seen on USA Network, has produced more primetime episodes than any other weekly episodic television series in history, and continues to be the most highly rated weekly series on cable television. WWE’s popular SmackDown®, currently on the CW Network on Fridays at 8:00 p.m. EST, moves to MyNetworkTV in the same time slot on October 3. WWE’s ECW® is seen on the SCI FI Channel on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. EST (moving to 9:00 pm EST on September 30). These top-rated WWE programs attract nearly 15 million fans per week in the United States. This PG environment, as rated by the respective networks, is also consistent with WWE’s own self-regulation of its website (wwe.com), all other digital assets, and publications. WWE television programming can be seen in 130 countries and is translated into 23 languages.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide

-30-

Media Contact: Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
Investor Contact: Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

John Cena a Role Model for Australian Children

WWE Superstar John Cena has been named a role model by kids in Australia according to an article in The Daily Sunday Telegraph (Australia).

In the Cartoon Networks New Generations 2007 study of nearly 2500 young people aged seven to 14, parents were found to be the biggest role models for Australian kids. “Among the study participants, 32 percent of boys and 36 percent of girls nominated their mum or dad as the person they look up to most. A further 22 percent of boys then nominated a sportsperson, with American professional wrestler John Cena and Australian rules footballer Chris Judd also making the list.” Additional role models included Steve Irwin, Spider-Man, Avril Lavigne, Paris Hilton and Hilary Duff.

Media Man Australia Profiles

John Cena

WWE

WWE Renames Filmed-Entertainment Division - 22nd July 2008

STAMFORD, July 22: World Wrestling Entertainment is renaming its Los Angeles-based subsidiary WWE Films as WWE Studios, reflecting the division’s mandate to develop entertainment across theatrical features, direct-to-DVD movies, scripted TV movies and series and reality programming.

“The name change reflects our focus on expanding the variety of projects that WWE intends to pursue,” said Michael Lake, the president of WWE Studios. “WWE Studios will continue to pursue opportunities which expand the integration of the WWE brand and its Superstars into filmed entertainment.”

Upcoming releases for WWE Studios includes WWE Superstar John Cena’s latest theatrical film, 12 Rounds, in early 2009. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film will be released by 20th Century Fox under the WWE first-look deal with Fox Atomic. WWE Studios, in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, also will debut its first direct-to-DVD film, Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia, starring WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy. Since the subsidiary’s formal inception in 2002, WWE has produced three motion pictures: See No Evil, The Condemned and The Marine.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WWE Films

John Cena

Press Release - SmackDown®/ECW® Tour - The Biggest And Best Ever - June 19, 2008

SYDNEY, Australia, June 19, 2008 - On June 11, the entertainment heavyweight that is WWE® descended upon the shores of Australia and New Zealand. The tour swept through seven cities in seven days, playing in front of fanatical crowds in Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Newcastle before finishing up in Brisbane on June 17, making it the longest live event tour to date in the region.

Along with more than 68,000 WWE fans who attended the seven live events, ringside to watch the drama unfold were top TV comedian Rove McManus, Australian cricket hero Shane Warne, former champion boxer Jeff Fenech, as well as stars from Newcastle Knights, Sydney Swans, The NZ Warriors and Geelong Football Club.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide

-30-

Media Contact: Gary Davis, 203-353-5066

Investor Contact: Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

Media Man Australia Profiles

World Wrestling Entertainment

Vince McMahon, WWE - Tribune newspapers - 24th June 2008

Perhaps Vince McMahon should consider staying home the next time there is a draft on Raw. On last year's draft episode, McMahon's limo exploded into flames seconds after he got into it, kicking off the "Who Blew Up Vince McMahon" story line that was scrapped after a couple weeks in the wake of the Benoit tragedy.

Last night, the three-hour Raw draft special concluded with McMahon being taken out on a stretcher after part of the set collapsed on him. To show that it was "real," Triple H, John Cena and Edge all broke character and tried to come to McMahon's aid. When McMahon regained consciousness, he called out for "Paul," which is his son-in-law Triple H's real name.

The "accident" is being used as the story line reason for ending McMahon's Million Dollar Mania. WWE announced on its Web site after the show that the weekly money giveaways have been suspended for the foreseeable future.

For more, check out the Baltimore Sun's "Ring Posts" wrestling blog here.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Vince McMahon

WWE

WWE Promotes New VP Of Affiliate Marketing - Press Release - 25th June 2008

STAMFORD, Conn., June 25, 2008 -- World Wrestling Entertainment® has promoted Lisa Richards to Vice President, Affiliate Marketing. In her new role, Richards will be responsible for the marketing and promotion of WWE’s slate of annual pay-per-view events, including WrestleMania®, and the subscription video-on-demand service, WWE 24/7™ On Demand®. The announcement was made today by Peter Clifford, WWE’s Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing.

“For four years, Lisa has been a primary force behind the affiliate tools and award winning promotions that drive sales of our pay-per-view and VOD products,” said Clifford.

Richards joined WWE in 2004 as Affiliate Sales Director, Western Region. Prior to WWE, she was a manager of sales and marketing at Starz Encore Group.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE), can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com . For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WrestleMania

Affiliate Programs

Wests Tigers face more injury woes - The Sydney Morning Herald - 16th June 2008

He weighs in at 130kg and stands 198cm tall, but unfortunately for Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, Batista won't provide any relief to the NRL club's front row crisis.

The three time WWE world heavyweight champion cut an imposing figure as he joined fellow pro wrestler MVP at Tigers training on Monday, the duo in town for the recently completed `Smackdown Tour'.

With the Tigers down to bare bones in the engine room, Batista would be a welcome addition up front, particularly if he was able to unleash a couple of his trademark `Batista Bombs' on a few unsuspecting Brisbane forwards on Friday night.

"I don't think they'd last too long on a footy field (given) the size of them," Tigers hooker Robbie Farah said.

"We wouldn't mind some big guys at the moment obviously we're a bit down on troops ... with the guys we've got out at the moment we're really struggling."

Makeshift prop Danny Galea joined the injured brigade when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in Sunday's 44-6 loss to Parramatta.

Ryan O'Hara, who hasn't played since the trials due to a broken jaw, is still another couple of weeks away, as is Keith Galloway (foot).

Todd Payten (hamstring) is rated some chance of making the trip north to take on the Broncos, while Bryce Gibbs (knee) is touch and go.

Gibbs has been sidelined since suffering a deep laceration to his right knee which became infected following the round 12 loss to the Sydney Roosters.

"The doc said no, don't play (against Brisbane) but I said I wanted to play anyway," Gibbs said.

"I'm not allowed to run until Thursday. It'd be great to be playing, we haven't got many players left, especially up front.

"If I can run, I can play. All that can happen is that it (the wound) can open back up again.

"We'll have Hodgo (lightweight fullback Brett Hodgson) playing in the front row if I don't come back soon."

Batista and MVP showed off a few of their favourite moves at training on Monday, though not many are likely to see their way onto a football field given the NRL judiciary's crackdown on wrestling manoeuvres.

"He'd get a few weeks for that one," O'Hara said shortly after being swung to the ground in what could only be described as a chicken wing tackle gone mad.

Despite the fact he dwarfed Tigers big men O'Hara and Gibbs, Batista said he had great admiration for NRL players - going as far as to call American football "sissyish" by comparison.

"I think it's insane," Batista said.

"It impresses the hell out of me to seeing big guys run up and down the field all day long for hours.

"It's hard to run around and carry all that weight and all that muscle; that these guys have that agility and endurance is amazing."

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

Rough road to the top for wrestler, by Scott Casey - Brisbane Times - 18th June 2008

Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) lives a glamorous life of global jetsetting, fine clothes, exquisite jewellery and beautiful women - so it's difficult to imagine that his long journey to the top actually began at the very bottom.

MVP, born Alvin Burke, had to grow up fast when at age 16, after running with gangs and getting in scrapes with the law, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.

During the nine years MVP spent on the inside, he decided to take his life down another path.

"It was at work release where I became a gym rat ... I was what they call 'permanent party' so I couldn't leave the work release facility, I worked in the kitchen, so all I did was eat and work out," he told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"When I got to work release I was 207 pounds (93 kilograms) and by the time I got transferred ... I was 245 pounds (111kg)."

During the work release program, MVP was approached by wrestler "Primetime" Darryl D, who, upon MVP's release, gave him the opportunity to train with another wrestler, "Soul man" Alex G.

While building up his skills and his reputation as an independent wrestler, MVP worked a variety of jobs to support himself.

"I worked primarily in nightclubs ... bodyguard work, things of that sort. I did that work for two reasons: one, because I'm a convicted felon it was hard to find work; and two, because it gave me the flexibility to go to the independent shows."

He managed to turn his difficulty finding work into a positive, and now helps former prisoners to get their lives back on track.

"You send a guy to prison, you put that black mark on him and he gets out he can't live anywhere, can't work anywhere, his options are extremely limited," he said.

"I'd like to show people your options are limited but you need to have the resolve within to overcome."

Now that MVP is at the top of his profession, he looks forward to the expansion of WWE into new markets across the world.

"People that can't even speak English can say, 'MVP you suck!'... I'm excited about the fact we opened up an office in China," he said.

"They talk about WWE being a slice of Americana - well, now it's becoming a slice of Australia and a slice of Brazil and a slice of all these other places where people are just overwhelmed by WWE and this mania."

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

Dwayne drops The Rock for Get Smart - NineMSN - 16th June 2008

Here's a tip.

Memorise it or write it down and store it away in a safe place because it could save you from a severe, physical beating.

If you happen to bump into former professional wrestling star-turned Hollywood leading man, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, do not raise the issue that he may not be as buff as what he once was.

Johnson, standing 1.92m tall, is obviously a big man, but he is also an actor undergoing great change.

Last month his 11-year marriage to wife, Dany, ended and career-wise, Johnson is moving away from the action roles that marked his Hollywood debut, such as 2001's The Mummy Returns and a year later, The Scorpion King.

The 36-year-old has been vocal about pursuing different genres.

He has also decided to drop his old nickname, The Rock, and will now only be billed in his films simply as Dwayne Johnson.

So, 2008 is a year of change for Johnson.

It would make sense if he did decide to lose some muscle as being slimmer would open the possibility for directors to cast him in a wider variety of roles.

Right?

Whether it was the light or maybe the long-sleeved dress shirt Johnson was wearing for this interview on a recent Saturday in Beverly Hills, it did appear he was not as buff as what he was.

So the question was asked.

He did not appreciate it.

"Since when?" Johnson, a former gridiron star for the University of Miami, replied.

Ummm, about a year ago?

"I actually work out more," Johnson said, making it clear he has not slimmed down.

Training, he added, remained an essential part of his life, although he said he can ramp it up or tone it down depending on the type of role he played.

"I enjoy training," he explained.

"Training is usually an anchor for me, for the day.

"That's how I begin my day, whether it's 4am or 8am."

Johnson's latest performance required him to be buff, but is a twist on his big screen action persona.

He plays the invincible Agent 23 in Get Smart, a Hollywood comedy based on the 1960s-70s TV sitcom of the same name.

Comedian Steve Carell stars as Agent 86, the role that Don Adams played in the original TV series.

The film allows Johnson to show off some of his comedy chops, something he proved he had in last year's Disney hit, The Game Plan, which earned almost $US150 million at the worldwide box office, although there's one scene that may leave his former pro-wrestling fans gagging.

It involved Johnson and Carell, as the good guy CONTROL agents fighting to save the world, locking lips in a passionate kiss.

"It was everything you imagined and dreamed about," Carell quipped.

Carell has had fun in numerous interviews to promote Get Smart recalling the kiss.

What did Johnson smell and taste like?

"Soft skin," Carell said.

"Dwayne smells like soft baked cookies."

Johnson lets out a nervous laugh when told of his co-star's memory of the kiss.

He had his own memory.

"Did you ever have warm chocolate cake mixed with ice cream?" Johnson asks.

"It's a fine balance.

"It makes you shiver?

"The kiss was like that."

And, apparently, the kiss was not a quick scene to shoot, with Carell and Johnson making sure the end result drew plenty of laughs.

"We did a lot of takes for that," Johnson adds.

"There was different types of kissing.

"Whatever the funniest way was to elicit great laughs, we'd go for it.

"But, it was a little awkward, though when I felt - just between us - I felt a little tongue.

"That was weird."

Johnson is looking to shake his career up in another way.

He says he was approached eight months ago to work in a theatre production, but it did not fit his schedule.

"In a way, for me, the world that I came from, sports entertainment, that was my theatre," he explained.

"I had 20,000 to 30,000 people to entertain.

"It forced you to have an acumen and be on your feet and that type of theatre really benefits me now.

"It was four hours of live television a week and there was nothing you couldn't throw at me.

"So, hopefully, one day maybe I will do theatre."

In the meantime, Johnson, who once was billed as the actor most likely to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger as Hollywood's number one action hero, will continue accepting roles that he finds challenging and a little different.

"I admire actors with a broad range of work - Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Will Smith, for example.

"I aspire to be that.

"Those guys put out great movies, they're not always box office smashes, but they're still really good movies and they have a broad range of work and they're good people.

"They're inherently good people and I like that."

* Get Smart opens in Australia on June 26.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

WWE

WWE wrestlers take on NRL's Tigers - Live News - Macquarie Radio Network

WWE wrestlers Dave Batista and MVP trained with Wests Tigers today, learning some rugby league moves and teaching some of their own wrestling moves.

The stars of American professional wrestling were naturals when it came to picking up passing and tackling - although their goal-kicking skills left a little to be desired - while a few lucky Tigers got the chance to mix it in the ring with the pros.

Website Video

Live News

Profiles

Dave Batista

WWE

Hey, hey, we're the monks, by Andrew Webster - The Sydney Morning Herald - 16th June 2008

The Swans faithful started cheering wildly when they thought they saw the Dalai Lama walking across the SCG after the victory against St Kilda on Saturday night. It was actually one of six Gyuto monks from Tibet who had attended the game after watching the spiritual leader preaching at Homebush earlier that night. Decked in Swans scarves, they performed a chant in the rooms and presented resident Swans Buddhists Brett Kirk and coach Paul Roos with white scarves. And in a sign that sport really does bring people together, also sighted was Underbelly star Les Hill and Shane McMahon, the son of WWE promoter Vince, who was distributing tickets to yesterday's "Smackdown" in Sydney.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Vince McMahon

WWE

Indian origin wrestler in Oz Olympic squad - SIFI - 5th June 2008

Sydney: Sandeep Kumar failed to make it to the Indian wrestling squad despite boasting of an outstanding record. Disillusioned by the state of sports administration in the country, Sandeep chose a foreign land to prove his potential and will proudly walk under an Australian flag in the opening ceremony in Beijing Olympics this August.

Sandeep became the first Indian origin sportsperson to make it to an Australian Olympic squad after his selection was announced earlier this month, according to a report in the Indian Link newspaper here.

"I feel very proud and honoured to represent Australia at the Olympics," says Kumar, who only migrated here four years ago and will be competing in the 84-kg freestyle wrestling division in Olympics.

Back home, the 25-year-old Kumar, then a constable with Punjab Police had a room partner in Daleep Singh, today famously known as Khali. And unlike millions others who dream of scoring those winning runs in a one-day cricket match for India, both of them trained hard to make a name for themselves in the wrestling world.

Kumar and Daleep tasted success in national and international circuit. Daleep today is better known as the fearsome Khali on the American WWE circuit.

Also Read: Khali seeks more Indians for WWE

The youngest of four children, Kumar's older brother Anil who was also a wrestler, introduced him to the ancient sport at an early age.

Kumar showed potential early in his career, winning numerous wrestling championships. In 1997, as a teenager, he won a gold medal at the Russian championships and is a three-time winner of the Australian Asian Championships. He has also won the Australia Cup, a wrestling competition hosted by the United Wrestling Club.

"In India, we were getting good money for wrestling - we got government jobs as well. That's why I decided to do wrestling," Kumar, who turned professional at the age of 15, told the paper.

But favouritism amongst Indian selectors meant that despite his achievements, he was not selected to represent India. Kumar's dreams of making a name at the international level went crashing down. He took a bold decision and moved out of the country to prove himself.

"I was a good wrestler in India," he says. "But I didn't get the chance to go to other countries and represent India."

An encounter with Kuldip Bassi, changed Kumar's career - and life - forever.

Whilst training in a Punjab wrestling club four years ago, Bassi, founder and president of the United Wrestling Club (UWC) in Melbourne, handpicked Kumar amongst the hundreds of young Indians in training.

"Technically he was the most talented, and a smart wrestler too," says Bassi.

"I saw he could do better and I thought that if he came to Australia he would have a good future and would make a good name for himself, the club and the standard of Australian wrestling," he adds.

Bassi sponsored Kumar to train with the UWC. Alongside his training, Kumar works as a taxi driver, which he will cease as the Olympics draw closer.

Kumar's achievements are now being recognised and last month he was honoured by Victoria's Ramgarhia Sikh Association.

Earlier this month, the Punjabi Council of Australia honoured him for his contribution to wrestling, at a Baisakhi celebration at NSW Parliament.

So is Kumar going for gold?

"I am trying hard, I think I can win a gold medal. For this I am taking my training very seriously," says Kumar.

Kumar hopes that more youngsters from India will follow his steps in the next Olympics. "I will be (the only Australian of Indian origin) at the Beijing Olympics, but in the next Olympics, some more boys from our community should participate."

Kumar has certainly advanced a long way since his days as a Punjab Police constable. Like Khali, Kumar is making his mark in the sporting arena.

"I watch him on television sometimes!" says Kumar about his former mate.

Perhaps when the Olympics roll around in August this year, Khali will be watching Kumar as he battles, or should we say - wrestles - for gold.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Olympics

WWE

WWE Smackdown/ECW tour, by Katherine Feeney - Brisbane Times - 14th June 2008

Genre Event
Location Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Address Melaleuca Drive, Boondall
Date June 17
Tickets From $65
Phone Bookings 132 849
Online Bookings http://www.ticketek.com.au

The strange and hugely popular phenomenon of American wrestling is bringing some of its biggest names to Australia this month for the 'Smackdown/ECW' tour.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is a big business in America and, increasingly, all around the world.

The WWE RAW Survivor Series and various other WWE franchises have toured around the globe everywhere from Portugal to South Africa and Australia to Thailand.

You wouldn't necessarily think that a combination of professional wrestling and scripted, vaudeville dramatisation would be so universally appealing but there you go.

WWE is majority owned and run by the McMahon family, headed by the imposing Vince McMahon, a former wrestler himself, with an annual turnover of around US$400 million, according to Wikipedia.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE Smackdown ECW Live!

WWE

ECW

Miz fit mania, by Adrian Proszenko - The Sun-Herald - 15th June 2008

Lock up your daughters, Sydney, "The Miz" is in town.

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, the self-proclaimed chick magnet of World Wrestling Entertainment, reckons he'll have become very familiar with the ladies by the time his tour of Australia ends.

"Chicks dig me and men fear me," Mizanin told The Sun-Herald. "I can't help that, when I walk into a place, women flock to me.

"I can't help that women want to talk to me. What really gets annoying is when they just start throwing themselves on me. Give me some sort of challenge.

"Ladies, expect to get really blushy-faced and really turned on when you see me [in Australia] because I'm much better looking in person than I am on TV."

The Miz and WWE stars including The Undertaker and Big Show square off at Acer Arena tonight.

Mizanin's journey from frat boy to wrestling star began when he dropped out of college, where he was studying business, to appear on reality TV show The Real World.

It was here that he created his trash-talking alter ego, The Miz, which became his wrestling persona through the pro ranks.

"One person you don't want to mess with is The Miz," he warned.

Mizanin holds the WWE's Tag Team championship, dominating the division alongside partner John Morrison.

"We are going to be known and recognised as one of the greatest [partnerships]," he said.

The 27-year-old promised to unleash his seldom-used wrestling move, The Mizard of Oz, while in Australia. However, his usual finishing manoeuvre is the Reality Check, an apt title considering he has appeared in nine reality TV programs.

Although he had to crawl into a pit full of tarantulas en route to winning reality TV show Fear Factor, he said it was nothing compared to his exploits in the ring.

Once he was thrown off a six-metre ladder, he reports. "But screw that!" he adds. "If you get into the ring with The Undertaker, Big Show - people who are seven foot tall and 500 pounds - that's pretty crazy in my mind."

Translated, he's referring to opponents who are more than 2.1 metres and 220 kilograms.

There is little rest for a WWE star.

When he's not pummelling opponents, going to endless red carpet events in Los Angeles or working out until he's "huge and jacked", The Miz loves to sleep in until midday.

"The Miz does not wake up in the morning, that's for losers," he said.

Pity us poor fools.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE Smackdown ECW Live!

WWE

McMahon Economic Package - 6th June 2008

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to Begin $1 Million Giveaway to Viewers Live on USA Network's 'WWE Monday Night RAW'

WHAT: WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will begin his unprecedented giveaway
of $1 Million to viewers every week on USA Network's "WWE Monday
Night RAW" live broadcast as "McMahon's Million Dollar Mania"
begins

WHEN: Monday, June 9th at 9/8 C

WHERE: USA Network's "WWE Monday Night RAW"

WHY: World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon has once
again shown his passionate bond with WWE fans by taking the
already #1 weekly year-round show on cable, WWE Monday Night RAW
on USA Network to a new level at the start of this 2008 summer
with a ground breaking on-air promotion.

Never before has such a prominent television executive given away
such a large amount of his personal wealth to the viewing
audience. The giveaway will be the largest ever undertaken on
television.

To participate, viewers must register on wwe.com each week and
then watch Monday Night RAW(R) on USA Network to acquire the code
necessary to win. Winners will be contacted live throughout each
Monday Night RAW broadcast.

Given the difficult economic situation many Americans now face,
"McMahon's Million Dollar Mania" offers an exciting economic
stimulus for loyal RAW viewers. McMahon and WWE are renowned for
creating compelling narratives that tie into current events,
drawing viewers and generating water cooler buzz across the
country.

CONTACT: Brad Bernstein 212.664.4401
Nathan Nazario 407.880.5993

Media Man Australia Profiles

Vince McMahon

WWE

WWE Afterburn Premieres On Channel Nine - Press Release - 5th June 2008

Channel Nine today announced an exclusive free-to-air-television deal with World Wrestling Entertainment®, giving the network the rights to show WWE Afterburn, one of the most popular international programs of the sports entertainment genre.

WWE Afterburn will screen on Sunday afternoons at 1:30pm starting Sunday, June 15.

WWE Afterburn, features the best matches and interviews of the week from WWE SmackDown®, in an action-packed one-hour show guaranteed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Hosted by Josh Mathews, WWE Afterburn provides all the best from the week’s matches and features the greatest moments from favourite WWE Superstars including Batista™, Big Show™, Edge™, Finlay™, The Great Khali™, Hornswoggle™, Michelle McCool™, Rey Mysterio® and Undertaker®.

“This exclusive deal with WWE is a great acquisition for Nine which sits well with our audience. It will attract a large number of young males and WWE fans to the network,” said Les Sampson, Nine’s Director of Acquisitions. “We are excited to bring this phenomenally popular international entertainment brand to Australian viewers.”

Jonathan Sully, President WWE Asia Pacific, said; "Our partnership with Nine will allow WWE to reach an extended television audience to the benefit of our fans and business partners. We appreciate Nine’s support, and view it as confirmation of the growing strength of the WWE brand in Australia.”

WWE Afterburn premieres on Channel Nine on Sunday June 15, at 1:30pm.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Network Nine Australia

WWE

THREE QUESTIONS: Batista - The Sydney Morning Herald - 26th May 2008

Who was your most fearsome opponent?
The Undertaker. He is a true legend and a future Hall of Famer. His size, strength and experience are unmatched. I'm unafraid of any of the other wrestlers.

What's your secret to an even tan?
Lots of beach time and constant turning. For me, living in Florida is a huge plus - you can't get much better.

What is your favourite chick flick?
Sleepless In Seattle. A good dose of romance and comedy mixed in with great performances from Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

Batista will appear in the World Wrestling Entertainment SmackDown/Extreme Championship Wrestling tour at Acer Arena on June 15.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE SmackDown/Extreme Championship Wrestling

WWE

ECW

Wrestlers given chance at big time - The New Zealand Herald - 27th May 2008

New Zealand wrestlers will get a shot at the big time as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is to host trials in Auckland.

The WWE is touring Down Under and before the Auckland show on June 11 Kiwi Pro Wrestling (KPW) chief executive Rip Morgan will pick around 12 locals to perform in front of the organisation's talent scouts.

KPW director Janine Carline said a lot of people had put their hands to take part in the audition and despite the massive jump in scale to the WWE - "they have 70,000 people in stadiums, they do Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium" - there were some who had a real shot at selection.

"It's our credibility at stake. We're not going to put people across that we don't feel have the potential to make it in the WWE. We're not time wasters here, we're serious."

She said KPW had several former pros tutoring the current crop and they knew what to expect on the international circuit .

Mr Morgan said two of the organisation's top wrestlers - current champion H-Flame ("The Man of the Hour, the Tower of Power, just too sweet to be sour!") and Max "The Axe" Damage (finishing move: Collateral Damage) - had recently returned from a stint performing in Australia.

It has been almost 20 years since New Zealand tag team The Bushwhackers carried the flag in America and with 2008 the first year trials have been held here, it was about time to put New Zealand pro-wrestling back on the map, Mr Morgan said.

Candidates will be judged on ring skills, charisma, drive and fortitude.

Anyone who makes the cut will travel to a training camp in Florida to be groomed for a spot in the WWE.

KPW will name those selected for the try-outs on its website on June 3.

- NZPA

Media Man Australia Profiles

World Wrestling Entertainment

On tour with Kelly Kelly, by Scott Casey - Brisbane Times - 17th May 2008

From high school cheerleader to aspiring journalist to saucy World Wrestling star, Kelly Kelly's career has followed a varied path - to say the least.

The star will join fellow wrestlers including Undertaker and Batista on a WWE tour across Australia in June.

Kelly found her way into wrestling via modelling while she in college studying to become a broadcast journalist, with hopes of becoming a TV anchor.

"I love [wrestling], I just love every day of it," she said.

"WWE contacted me through my modelling agency and they knew I had an athletic background so they sent me down to Atlanta, Georgia where they kicked my butt for a week straight and asked me if I wanted a job at the end of it."

At high school Kelly did gymnastics for 10 years until an injury forced her into cheerleading.

"I still get to use some of my moves so that's pretty good," she said.

Living the life of a professional wrestler working in one of the world's most high-profile pursuits is difficult, she said, with an almost constant training schedule and travel around the United States and overseas.

"Even on my off days now I'm still training, so I try to get into the ring and learn different stuff," she said.

"We consider ourselves a big family [inside wrestling], some people have their own little cliques and we try to get along a best we can."

When Kelly first began as a wrestler she was billed as a "self-proclaimed exhibitionist" and put on strip shows called "Kelly Kelly's Expose".

"My jealous boyfriend Mike Knox used to come out and try and wrap a towel around me but I would still do it and eventually we broke up and I formed Extreme Expose with Booke and Layla and we were a little group who danced every week," she said.

"That ended so now Layla and I are going at each other's throats every week.

"The first night I did it [expose] my nerves were through the roof and then every week after if kept getting easier, but I still get nervous out there now."

She might not dance much any more, but Kelly is looking forward to a long career in wrestling.

"I plan to be here as long as I can," she said.

The SmackDown/ECW hits Australian shores on June 13 and will be in Brisbane on June 17 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE Smackdown / ECW Live

World Wrestling Entertainment

Batista's battles outside the ring, by Nui Te Koha - Herald Sun - 25th May 2008

"I never want to forget what I've been through and where I came from," Batista said in Sydney last week, where he was promoting the Wrestlemania 24 DVD, out June 7.

By any standard – even the wacky melodrama of World Wrestling Entertainment's storylines – Batista's journey is surreal.

Batista – born Dave Bautista – was raised by his mother, Donna, in poverty, and in a violent part of Washington D.C.

During his childhood, three murder victims were found in, or near Batista's front yard, in separate incidents – their home was near an alleyway notorious for violent crime.

"We saw some bad things," he said.

"We saw a couple of people die. There were fights all the time, stabbings were common.

"And I hate to say this, but I was numb to it. That's all I knew."

Batista said his mother, a lesbian, moved the family to San Francisco to escape the violence.

"I never had an issue with my mother's sexuality," he said.

"She loved us, she cared for us, and that's all that mattered."

Batista said her extended family disowned her for "being a Democrat".

Batista, 39, is a divorced father with two daughters. He also has two grandchildren.

He said family forced him to quit womanising.

"I didn't drink or do drugs. Women were my drug of choice," Batista said.

"I would have 10, 20, 30 girls throwing themselves at me. I wasn't equipped to handle it. So I took advantage. "

Batista and WWE stars including Edge, The Undertaker and Big Show will visit Rod Laver Arena on June 13.

Media Man Australia Profiles

World Wrestling Entertainment

WWE Legends of WrestleMania Announced - Pro wrestling spin-off to launch for PS3 and Xbox 360 next spring.

THQ and JAKKS Pacific confirmed this week that they are preparing WWE Legends of WrestleMania, a spin-off from the popular WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Further details were not announced for the new game, but based on the title, WWE Legends of WrestleMania should find the middle ground between the SmackDown franchise and Acclaim's last-gen Legends of Wrestling games, which starred a cavalcade of retired pro wrestlers.

"The development capabilities afforded by next-generation hardware, combined with our established history and deep understanding of fighting videogames, allow us to leverage the strength of the WWE brand to further extend our leadership in the fighting videogame genre and bring this new property to market," said Peter Matiss, vice president of global brand management at THQ.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WrestleMania

THQ

WWE Video Games

Games

Gaming

Wrestler to bow out tonight, By Meghan E. Murphy - Times Herald-Record - 18th April 2008

CITY OF NEWBURGH — No one can predict what will happen when Rowdy Roddy Piper enters the wrestling arena with bagpipes blaring tonight. Only one thing's for certain: The legend says it will be the last time he'll set foot in a ring.

A day after his 54th birthday, the WWE Hall of Famer promises fans one last "Piper's Pin" at Newburgh Free Academy's Spring Slam. The fundraising event will also feature a title bout between Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe, New Windsor's Tony DeVito and the wrestling debut of K104 DJ Chris Marino. Samoa Joe took the Total Nonstop Action wrestling title from Angle just five days ago in a pay-per-view broadcast.

Only about 1,400 fans will get bleacher seats for the retirement match of one of World Wrestling Entertainments' biggest names. Piper has made only occasional ring appearances in the past few years, but said he couldn't turn down an opportunity to help raise money for young wrestlers.

Piper left home at 13 and slept in youth hostels. His first coach advised him to look into amateur competition to stay out of trouble.

In 38 years of wrestling, Piper's won 38 pro titles and more than 7,000 matches. He's also been stabbed three times, suffered spine injuries, has a titanium hip and last year beat Hodgkin's lymphoma. Tonight's match benefits the Newburgh Wrestling Boosters Club, which last year sent a dozen students to camp with Spring Slam proceeds. Coach Jeff Cuilty said the impact on the team of this fundraiser is evident: The team won the league title this year.

Wrestlers will sign autographs and take photos with fans at 6 p.m. Bell time is 8 p.m. at NFA, 201 Fullerton Ave.Tickets start at $15. For more information, visit www.northeastwrestling.com.

mmurphy@th-record.com

Media Man Australia Profiles

Rowdy Roddy Piper

WWE

Wrestling

WWE collecting, storing for future Hall of Fame site, by Jim Varsallone - The Miami Herald - 8th April 2008

With World Wrestling Entertainment honoring its Class of 2008 recently at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Orlando, WWE Executive Vice President of Global Media Shane McMahon discussed an actual WWE Hall of Fame facility.

''We've been close a number of times,'' McMahon said. ``We actually looked at a place in Orlando a few years ago. We don't know where it's going to settle, yet. I think it's probably still a couple of years away, but we're really anxious to do it.

``We've been collecting memorabilia. We have this warehouse that's under lock and key that we just collect every single little thing. We date it. We put it on there. So, when it opens, it will be really cool.''

• McMahon, 38, said further global expansion is the next step for WWE. The company has increased its international touring and has been discussing business with other countries including an emphasis on Latin America.

Legendary promoter/wrestler Carlos Colon of the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico wants to work more with WWE. Other reps from Latin America including the Dominican Republic would like WWE to start a training program in its country, grooming wrestlers at an international WWE developmental territory or for a specific international WWE brand.

''[An international brand] is a potential,'' McMahon said. ``It's something, excuse the pun, we wrestle with. It's very hard because when you see this caliber of product with Raw and SmackDown! and even ECW, when you see the caliber of athletes and the production value and everything that we put in there with the storylines, that's hard to duplicate.

'My dad [WWE Chairman Vince McMahon] likes to call it, `America's greatest export.' It's hard to argue with him at certain things because we are pretty much ubiquitously distributed throughout the world.

``There could be another entity that develops. We'll have to see what happens.''

WWE is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto and Sydney. The company also plans to open an office in Sao Paulo.

''The countries that we are in, we want to make better,'' McMahon said. ``The countries where we are not currently, which aren't that many, we want to get in, get the market and then bring all of our properties in there.

``The first thing that we do, from our game plan standpoint, is you have to get on the air. So you need television. Once you have a television partner, you start to build certain things with them. After that, you usually bring in a live event. That's usually the next hit. Then from there, you bring in your merchandising, your licensing and all the other intellectual property aspects, and that's how we build the marketplace.''

WWE's television programming can be seen in more than 130 countries around the world. Each year, more than 7,500 hours of WWE programming is broadcast in 23 languages throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

In January, WWE in conjunction with Bakus International thrilled Brazilians with the debut of the internationally renowned television programs WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown! on Sistema Brasileiro de Televisóo.

''We're excited to be teaming with Bakus International to get WWE programming on SBT, one of Brazil's top TV networks,'' Carl DeMarco, WWE President, Latin America, China and Canada, said in a release. ``The tremendous athleticism and charisma of the WWE superstars and Divas are going to capture the imagination of all Brazil.''

Gian Teppet, director of New Business Development and Board of Director member, said: ``SBT is proud to welcome WWE as the newest member of our great family. Knowing the Brazilian desire for quality entertainment and WWE's proven success in over 120 countries, we are certain that WWE will be a huge success.''

Bakus International's COO Bill Bakula said: ``The time has come for Brazil to experience WWE at full throttle. WWE is an experience, packed with plenty of thrills, action and fun for the entire family. WWE offers the greatest entertainment value in the universe.''

WWE programs reach more than 16-million total viewers domestically during the average week. WWE is rated among the top weekly cable programs especially in the male demographic.

• Signing wrestlers

WWE has 165 superstars under exclusive contracts, ranging from multi-year guaranteed contracts with established superstars to developmental deals.

''We welcome all styles because we want everybody to have a little something,'' McMahon said. ``What I got out of WWE is different than what you'll get out of WWE. Some people like bug guys. Some like small guys, high fliers, ground soldiers. So we always try to have a good eclectic mix.

``We welcome all of it, but they got to fit, first and foremost, in our locker. Because if you don't fit with our guys -- those are the guys you work with, travel the road with and you're competing against -- it's all about that. Sometimes I enjoy the Mexican style, but you look at what Rey Mysterio has done of adapting the high-flying aspect with the American style with much more of what we do with the psychology aspect.

``It's not just triple backflip into something else. Everything that we do has a meaning, and you're telling the story to the audience. That's one of the secrets of our business.

``Until people can adapt into that style, you won't see more. If those, who can come in, can adapt to it, great.''

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

Breaking barriers, opening doors highlight Class of 2008, by Jim Varsallone - Miami Herald - 4th April 2008

Jack and Jerry Brisco became the first Native Americans and brothers to win the NWA world heavyweight title, the world junior heavyweight title and the world tag team titles. Jack also was the first Native American to win an NCAA national championship.

They were part of a pioneer class of 2008 inductees into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Soulman Rocky Johnson helped open the door for African Americans in pro wrestling nationally, especially the South.

High Chief Peter Maivia did the same for Samoans. Gordon Solie set the standard for wrestling announcers; Mae Young for women's wrestling; Eddie Graham for promoters; and, of course, Ric Flair for wrestling and sports entertainment, period.

• When thinking of great brother tag teams, tandems like the Funks, the Wild Samoans, the Steiners, the Hardys and the Mulkeys come to mind. OK. Maybe not the Mulkeys, but most definitely, the Brisco Brothers.

Born and raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma, the Brisco Brothers made a big name for themselves, especially in the Sunshine State. They worked for Graham and with Solie.

''Eddie Graham was one of the greatest minds for this business and had an eye for talent,'' Jack Brisco said. ``Gordon was not only one of the greatest commentators, but he just knew so much about the business. The way he called a match helped the wrestler out so much because Gordon was so good at what he did.''

The Brisco Brothers were also very good at what they did.

For the most part, they were good guys, receiving cheers from fans. They did play bad guy roles when battling Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood for the NWA world tag team belts in the Mid-Atlantic territory. Jerry did much of the trash talking, and older brother, Jack, had a crazed look in his eyes.

WWE star John Bradshaw Layfield, a Texan, proudly inducted the Oklahomans into the WWE Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 29 before 8,000 people during WrestleMania Weekend at the Amway Arena in Orlando. JBL said that proved, at least for one night, cowboys and Indians can get along.

A much decorated force, the Brisco Brothers made history inside and outside the ring.

Jerry Brisco: 'At the beginning of our careers, we wanted to be singles' wrestlers. Jack took off to Florida. I took off to Australia. Jack made a name for himself in Florida and Texas. I spent a year in Australia, honing my skills and then went to North Carolina and wrestled in the Mid-Atlantic area. I won several of the major singles' titles in the Carolinas and also in Georgia and Florida.

'Later, Jack became world heavyweight champion, and I became world junior heavyweight champion. We had very successful singles' careers. Toward the end of our careers, we knew there was one title that eluded us and could make us one of the most intriguing tag teams ever in the history of the sport, the world tag team championships. No other brothers had ever been the world heavyweight champ, world junior heavyweight champ and world tag team champs.''

JBL: ``The greatest team of all-time, the Brisco Brothers. A momentous thing happened in 1983 when they sold Georgia Championship Wrestling to WWE. That is when Mr. McMahon, WWE fully took over the entire world of professional wrestling and also made the Brisco Brothers independently wealthy.

``Jerry still works with the company which shows his legacy of how much he loves the business which I admire very much. Jerry still helps out a lot. That's what he does when he comes to TV.

``The Brisco Brothers in Florida held every major title you could hold. They owned this business from 1973-1983 which I believe makes them the greatest team of all-time.''

Jerry Brisco: ``It's a compliment to say you're the best ever at anything. We competed against a lot of great tag teams. Each one of them was tremendous in their ability. Each tag team had its own style. We brought something a little bit different. We were collegiate wrestlers at Oklahoma State University. My brother was a national champion. I was on a national championship team.

``We brought a collegiate style into pro wrestling, mixed at the end with sports entertainment style of wrestling. It is something we had special. The bottom line is we are sitting here today [WWE HOF press conference]. So somebody must have thought we were pretty good.''

Jack Brisco: ``Back in the day, there was a lot more tag team wrestling. A lot of the fans dictate that. A lot of the territories were built solely around tag team wrestling -- North Carolina and a lot here in Florida.

``Some territories didn't go for tag team wrestling. At one time it was very big. There were a lot of great tag teams around the country, and a lot of them were successful. As time went on, there were a lot more individuals getting into it. People weren't going into it as a tag team, and they've been very successful.''

Jerry Brisco: ``Back in the day, when it was just starting the cable TV wars, my brother and I were partners with a couple of people in Georgia Championship Wrestling that controlled WTBS, the major national cable at the time. Our contract with Ted Turner was Sunday and Saturday night with a 2-hour TV show that we produced in his studio.

``Vince McMahon was making his move throughout the country. We saw what was going on. I really got to give my brother most of the credit on this. He had the vision of looking around and seeing Vince coming into a lot of these areas and taking over talent that he was able to purchase, just cherry picking the top talent throughout the world and having that talent come work for him and then going into that particular territory and drawing big houses.

``The local guys [promoters] who lost their stars were suffering. We had the choice of trying to compete with Vince on a national basis or make the decision to sell.

``Being the competitors my brother and I are, we wanted to compete, but our partners didn't want to compete. They wanted to stay as focused as they were on the smaller venues and not really expand. As a lot of businesses do have major disagreements with stockholders, fortunately my brother and I convinced some of the other stockholders to join us, and we ended up with controlling interest in Georgia Championship Wrestling, and we contacted Vince, and the rest is history. We decided to sell, and it changed the course of sports entertainment.''

Jack Brisco: ``I think the wrestlers are much better off today. They have a much wider base to work with. They have bigger markets to work in. They're making a lot more money. I think everybody is much better off. The only drawback to not having the territories is you have to start your talent from within. In the old days when you needed talent, you would just go to another territory and bring the talent in.''

JBL: ``Jerry [Brisco] hired me in December 1995. He was a full-time agent with WWE. He and Blackjack Lanza were the agents, and Jerry really took me under his wing and did a lot with me.

'The Briscos were probably the greatest `wrestling' tag team. They were two of the greatest amateur wrestlers. Jack [a three-time, high school state champ] never got a point against him his college wrestling season [at 191 pounds] in 1965 for Oklahoma State. [Jerry lost just once his freshman season at 177 pounds for Oklahoma State].

``They were two of a few who were able to transition being real amateur wrestlers, the mat style, into our world of professional wrestling which is really phenomenal.''

Jack Brisco's resume of top moves: figure four leglock, superplex, belly-to-back suplex, sunset flip, sleeper hold, backslide.

Jerry Brisco's version: figure four leglock, double arm suplex, sleeper hold, belly-to-back suplex, vertical suplex.

In the late 1970s, the Brisco Briscos discovered Terry Bollea, who became top draw Hulk Hogan. They introduced Bollea to Hiro Matsuda for training in Tampa.

The Brisco Brothers own Brisco Brothers Body Shop, 4315 N. Hubert Ave. in Tampa. Jack is 66, and Jerry 58. Both could have had an extensive amateur wrestling career, but the lure of money in the pro ranks sent them on a very successful journey.

They have a very close relationship and also live in the Tampa area. Jack and wife, Jan, have been married 32 years. Jerry and his wife, Barbara, 30 years.

Jerry also helps train amateur wrestlers at Sickles High School where his wife teaches in Tampa. Their son, Wes, is training to become a pro wrestler.

• About the WWE Hall of Fame

John Cena: ``I love the Hall of Fame. It's the one night of the year for all the people who made this business as great as it is to get together. ... For those who enjoy sports entertainment, I hold the Hall of Fame near and dear to my heart.

``I have the utmost respect for anyone who has been honored and who are honored. ... It shows that they made their mark in this business. They made a ton of personal sacrifice to make this business what it is.''

Rocky Johnson: ``I never dreamed I would be here, but this has to be the pendant of it all. Not only that, but how many wrestlers or athletes could ever say they have their son induct them in the Hall of Fame? This I will never forget.

``I've won many championship belts and many firsts for African Americans in the South and the first Black WWE tag team champs with Tony Atlas. That was fantastic, but the most important [accolade] of my life is my son is flying in to induct me into the Hall of Fame, and he has to fly out right after.''

Elijah Burke: ``Rocky Johnson being inducted into the Hall of Fame means a lot. Rocky Johnson was to the African community and a lot of people in general a trendsetter.

``He was one of the guys, far and few between at that time, that we had to look onto and gave us hope that, hey, I too, one day, can be a WWE superstar. There wasn't many that we had. We had Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas and then we had the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, daddy.''

Randy Orton: ``The Hall of Fame means getting to sit in a room with people that I love in this business, people I've grown up with and look up to. If it wasn't for half the guys in this arena, I wouldn't be able to be where I am right now.

``So the Hall of Fame to me is getting to show the respect these guys deserve. I got to induct my father in 2005. That was an awesome thing for me to do because I love my father. If it wasn't for my father, I wouldn't be where I am, and that's what it's all about, respecting the people who paved the way for us.''

Sgt. Slaughter: ``I was influenced by my father who was a huge wrestling fan when I was a young boy. To stand up there and be inducted into the 2004 Hall of Fame for WWE was out of character, out of space type of happening for me. It's great to be here again. It's a time when you want to give them a Sgt. Slaughter salute and thank them for paving the road for all those who are behind us. It's just a great honor to be in their presence.''

Maria: ``There have been so many incredible woman. [Mae Young] paved the way. It gives us a lot to look up to.''

• High Chief Peter Maivia's daughter, Ata, who is The Rock's mom, gave an excellent speech, accepting the WWE Hall of Fame honor for her late, great father.

Media Man Australia Profiles

Native Americans

WWE

WWE Smackdown - Sunshine Coast Daily - 4th April 2008

The superstars of WWE and ECW are heading back to Brisbane for a non-stop action show on June 11 and with tickets on sale today.

Superstars confirmed so far include Batista, Edge, Kane, The Great Khali, Finlay and of course the beautiful Divas of WWE. Card subject to change.

Brisbane is the last stop on a five-date tour Down Under and this is one rare spectacle and tickets are expected to sell out fast so grab yours today.

WHAT: WWE Smackdown
WHERE: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
WHEN: Tuesday, June 17
TICKETS: On sale today via 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
INFO: www.wwe.com

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

ECW

Show's over: Mayweather wins his WWE debut - Fox Sports - 31st March 2008

In one of the most hyped WWE events in decades, close to 70,000 fans filled the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida to witness Floyd Mayweather Jr. knock out "The Big Show" in a no-holds barred wrestling match at Wrestlemania XXIV.

Mayweather wore protective mitts and used his speed to run in circles with Big Show chasing. At some point Big Show began to pummel one of Mayweather's bodyguards. Mayweather would later jump on Big Show's back and applied a sleeperhold, which Big Show would eventually break and begin to batter Mayweather with chops, a sideslam and variety of other moves.

The handlers of Mayweather would pull their employer out of the ring and attempt to take him to the back, Big Show would follow in pursuit and attack Mayweather on the outside before throwing him back in the ring.

The Big Show would later attempt to finish Mayweather off with the chokeslam, bout the move was prevented by Mayweather's team members who would interfere in the match. While Big Show was distracted, Mayweather would attack him with a chair. He would give Big Show a low blow, sending the giant wrestler to his knees as he would land a few more chair shots before taking off one of the mitts and using a pair of brass knuckles to land a right hand that knocked Big Show out.

The ref would count him out at 11.41 of the contest.

The idea of pitting Mayweather, boxing's pound-for-pound champion, against Big Show, who stands at nearly seven-feet and weighs over 400-pounds, gave both Mayweather and the WWE a lot of crossover attention with boxing and wrestling fans. The bout, because of Mayweather's involvement, also received a lot of mainstream attention from major newspapers, magazines and television outlets around the world.

Mayweather still received a ton of criticism from boxing fans for taking part in a scripted fight. He would tell anyone who would listen, that we was being paid $20-million dollars to take part in the match. Most wrestling insiders said the actual number was between $2-5-million and the "$20-million dollar" fee number was part of the script.

On the undercard, in a billed "career ending match," the career of legendary wrestler Ric Flair came to an end after he was pinned by Shawn Michael.

Flair received a massive standing ovation from the crowd in what should his final match after a long career in that began in 1972.

Besides being one of most recognizable names in wrestling for the last 30-years, Flair won the heavyweight title a combined 16-times during his stints in the NWA, WCW and the WWE, though some sources say the number could be as high as 25.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WrestleMania

WWE

Ric Flair

Press Release - WrestleMania® XXIV Crushes Records, Careers - 30th March 2008

ORLANDO, Fla., March 30, 2008 – Champions were crowned, the legendary Ric Flair was forced to retire, boxer Floyd Mayweather prevailed, and Undertaker extended his undefeated streak as World Wrestling Entertainment® set both attendance and ticket sale records at WrestleMania XXIV tonight at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
WWE® grossed more than $5.85 million in ticket sales, making it the highest grossing live event in WWE history and in the history of the Citrus Bowl.

WWE set an attendance record for the Citrus Bowl with 74,635 fans from all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries invading Orlando, pumping up to $30 million into the local economy. The WWE’s annual pay-per-view, pop culture extravaganza is televised to more than 100 countries.

In the match billed as a showdown between the greatest fighter in the world and one of the largest athletes on Earth, undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather barely survived against 7-foot, 441-lb. Big Show, eventually knocking him out with brass knuckles. Flair, a 16-time World Champion and 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee, lost to another legendary star, Shawn Michaels, in an emotion-filled match, forcing him into retirement as one of the greatest pro wrestling stars of all-time. Undertaker defeated Edge® to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, extending his undefeated streak at WrestleMania to16-0. Randy Orton® retained the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat match against Triple H® and John Cena®. Kane became the new ECW Champion, crushing Chavo Guerrero.

Always a star-studded event, WrestleMania XXIV featured several celebrity participants in addition to Mayweather. John Legend performed “America The Beautiful” to open the event, Snoop Dogg served as Master of Ceremonies for the BunnyMania Lumberjack Match, Kim Kardashian was a special guest hostess, and Raven-Symoné played host to 50 Make-A-Wish kids being honored by WWE in its largest wish granting event ever.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide

Media Contact: Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
Investor Contact: Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

Media Man Australia Profiles

WWE

WrestleMania